Extreme-Macro.co.uk

Extreme-macro.co.uk is a free learning site by macro photographer Johan J. Ingles - Le Nobel geared towards budget-conscious intermediate level macro photographers who want to know how to do extreme macro photography and the equipment that we use.

What is Extreme Macro?

There is no standard definition for extreme macro, but there is a tentative definition which gives some insight into its unusual nature. Macro photography (1:1) is usually pursued using off the shelf lens and camera equipment, whilst microphotography (10:1+) is undertaken using microscope equipment. Extreme macro covers the range between the two, and borrows apparatus used by both specialties to make images.

Macro Photography

... this site is geared towards budget-conscious intermediate level photographers

The fact of the matter is that macro photography, and especially macro photography of insects, is one of the most popular types of photography around. A lot of macro photographers want to move onto extreme macro focus stacking - but they don't really know where to start. I had much the same problem; useful information about this photography niche is scattered on the four corners of the Internet in some of its more obscure alleyways. By putting this site together I hope to make it easier for folks like myself, who had a lot of questions when they started out. I personally have lots of questions left myself and there's plenty more information to come in due course.

The macro photography principles, methods and equipment covered in this site are not just reserved for macro insect photography. They will be useful for photography of minerals, dental, medical and scientific photography, coin photography and general commercial closeup and macro photography of small objects such as jewellery as well.

Extreme Macro: First Steps

Moving high magnification closeup and extreme macro photography can be overwhelming and expensive by making uninformed equipment choices. In terms of first steps, in order of difficulty and expense: to do extreme macro, move on from standard 1:1 magnification macro into more extreme macro by using close-up Raynox lenses first because they give you nice in-camera control.

Beyond this, look towards an infinite objective on a tube lens, driven by an electronically controlled stacking stage such as a Cognysis Stackshot Stacker. Of course, depending on the equipment you already have, other routes like stacking two lenses will also work for you if you have them, but the sequence above is probably a reasonable progression path for most people both in terms of cost and in terms of picking up gradual know-how.

Focus Stacking Walkthrough

Focus Stacking

A tried and tested focus stacking workflow designed to create high resolution in-focus images with a depth of field infinitely larger than is possible with a single image. The most standard technique used for extreme macro.

Comments (56)

I've always limited my use of macro with coupled lenses to 2:1 or 3:1 rather than 1:1 as you prefer - I don't know how well it would work. I'd start by using a Raynox 150 or 250 first onto say a 50-200, then maybe work towards more exotoc lens combinations... good luck :)

Hi I' m trying to take pictures of a se shell collection got 1200 pieces to capture but some are 0.20 mm only. I have a nikon D5300 and Nikor macro 40 lens. Results are awful, I'm looking for a tutor (online or not) and happy to pay to help me solve my problem and toby the correct equipment, if anyone could contact me that would be lot appreciated. mageek at mac dot com

Thank you so much! I am in my second year of college and I am doing a whole project on macro photography. I have found this site extremely helpful in the setting that i use on my camera and the way in which i can take the actually images. i am so glad i stumbled upon your site.

Hello - just a very quick "thank you!" to people voting for this site at the webbys. Being a nominee was an unexpected honour, and I do hope that this might bring our little niche a little bit of publicity. Thank you again for taking the time! - Johan